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Chico council approves conditional offer for Jillian Hayne as city manager after split vote
Summary
The Chico City Council voted 5–2 to authorize a conditional employment offer to Jillian Hayne as city manager, approving a $285,000 salary package amid public concern about past complaints tied to her Vallejo tenure and defense from colleagues and outside officials.
The Chico City Council voted 5–2 on Tuesday to authorize a conditional offer of employment to Jillian Hayne to become the city’s next city manager, approving an annual salary of $285,000, a one‑time $15,000 relocation allowance and a $400 monthly vehicle allowance, pending a successful background check and contract edits.
The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and council debate. Opponents raised questions about Hayne’s record in Vallejo, including references by a speaker to a settled harassment claim that drew a $130,000 settlement, and concerns about a separate housing‑grant matter that a commenter said required reimbursement to HUD. “Was any discussion of that made with the attorney for the city?” asked Elizabeth Griffin, who urged the council to reconsider the offer in light of those reports.
Supporters defended Hayne’s experience and work on housing and homelessness. A Vallejo councilwoman who called in via Zoom said Hayne had shown “integrity, professionalism and collaboration,” and a local resident who identified ties to Hayne’s family urged the council to approve the appointment and noted Hayne’s local connections.
Council members were split. Vice Mayor Bennett said he favored an in‑city candidate with long institutional knowledge and announced he would vote no; Council member O’Brien said his vote was against the hiring process, which he described as “incomplete,” not necessarily against the candidate. Council member Goldstein and Council member Holly both voiced support for the candidate and for the vetting the council had done. Mayor Casey Reynolds moved the conditional offer, and Goldstein seconded; the motion carried 5–2 with O’Brien and Bennett voting no.
The motion directed the city manager and city attorney to modify the proposed contract so that CalPERS and Medicare pickup offsets and severance provisions mirror the current city manager’s contract and to remove any “me too” language. The council also authorized the mayor to sign the agreement and discussed a possible start date as early as July 27.
City Manager Mark Sorensen introduced the recruitment process and the proposed employment terms in the council packet; the record shows the council approved the conditional offer pending the usual background check. The motion left several procedural details to staff for final contract language and compliance with state law.
What happens next: Council staff will complete the background check and finalize contract edits directed by the council. The conditional offer will become final only after those steps are completed and the mayor signs the agreement.
Attributions: Quotes and attributions in this article come from speakers recorded in the council transcript and public comment: Elizabeth Griffin (public commenter), Vice Mayor Bennett, Council member O’Brien, Council member Goldstein and Mayor Casey Reynolds.
